Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Best Semester of my Life Past Review

By (International Business and Chinese, Trinity University) - abroad from 02/12/2012 to 05/28/2012 with

CIEE: Shanghai - Business, Language, and Culture

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned a lot of the Chinese culture, got to travel to SO many different place, and my Chinese improved a lot even if it was with the locals that I practiced it the most.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

The international dorms are very comfortable to live in, spacious, clean and have kitchens on every floor. They will wash your sheets for you when needed and will provide cleaning services every week. The "ayi's" are very nice :) .

* Food:

There are so many good and cheap food places by the back gate that one barely eats on campus. However the cafeterias on campus are also good, cheap, and include a variety of dishes.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Due to the location, one could interact as much as one wanted to with the Chinese culture and locals.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

Finances

* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

It depends on how much you do on weekends, whether you take cabs or the subway, and where you eat. Overall, though, food and cabs are already pretty cheap, so if you take the subway and eat at local places you probably won't spend more than $60 a week.

* Was housing included in your program cost? Yes
* Was food included in your program cost? No
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? About $50 - $60 when I stayed in Shanghai, sometimes less when I traveled (not including traveling expenses

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Intermediate
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Advanced
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? First semester of 3rd year Chinese
How many hours per day did you use the language?
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? Talk to anyone you can, they love it. They'll talk back to you and love to help you with your Chinese.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with?

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Encourage you to speak the language all the time
  • Paid trips to different cities and they encourage you to travel and to immerse you in the culture
  • Very helpful when trying to travel or finding places throughout the city
* What could be improved?
  • Students should be made to room with a Chinese student, instead of it being an option
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? You have to make an effort if you want to improve your Chinese, reach out to locals and Chinese students. That is why if there is anything I could change, it would be to have chosen a Chinese roomate.

Reasons For Studying Abroad

To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you.
The Avid Adventurer
The wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Business Chinese
Course Department:
Instructor:
Instruction Language: Chinese
Comments: This class will expand your knowledge and improve your use of business terms in Chinese. You will analyze several case studies on multinational corporations that have opened in China and will have the opportunity to go on field trips to these stores. This class is graded on individual presentations students make on the several different companies that have entered the Chinese market and their successes or chalenges. Overall, the Business Chinese course will help you improve the fluency of your Chinese while at the same time learn about how business is done in China.
Credit Transfer Issues: There were no issues transferring the credit to my home school since CIEE's class credits and grading are similar to my home school, and the program's academic schedule is divided into semesters.